Support Kurstin's Recovery and Expenses from Kidney Surgery

Hello everyone! My name is Kurstin Rutan (Keyes) and I have been experiencing a severe and extremely painful 6mm obstructing kidney stone/infection that has required emergency medical attention on multiple occasions since June 23, 2025.

This situation quickly escalated over the last two months, resulting in 911 calls, ambulance services, ER visits and being admitted for 14 days total on 3 separate occasions. I also had multiple diagnostic imaging tests, medications, and a failed removal procedure on June 24, 2025. I had 2 separate, serious allergic reactions to my antibiotics and a ER visit for that incident as well on July 5, 2025 to treat a high fever and full body hives.

I had a follow up appointment on July 10, 2025 with my Urologist to check stent and stone placement, and scheduled my removal procedure for August 21, 2025. Unfortunately during that waiting period, I developed a complicated UTI due to having a kidney stent for an extended period of time. After a week long hospital stay starting August 7, 2025, where I was AFIB, in excruciating pain and constant nausea, I was able to have SUCCESSFUL emergency stone removal surgery on August 13,2025.

I was disharged on August 14, 2025 and now have a week long recovery process at home with restrictions. I have one final procedure on August 22, 2025 to remove my remaining kidney stent before heading back to work.

After this procedure, I will still need to continue metabolic testing to determine the cause of the kidney stone, and how to further prevent them. I will also need to have thyroid testing completed to ensure that is not related to the kidney stone formation as well. These tests will require me to take additional time off work.

While I’m relieved to be on the path to recovery, the financial burden from this unexpected medical emergency has been overwhelming. Even with insurance, the costs have added up to more than my husband and I can manage on our own, especially as I’ve hardly been able to work during this time period. While Noah has been able to continue working full time, I currently work part time, and am a stay at home mom to our 15m old daughter, Poppy.

My part time income usually covers our rental payment (about $1200 a month, base rent) but without it consistently over the last 2 months, our budget has tightened significantly.

This has been a physically painful and emotionally exhausting experience for our whole family and we are doing our best to focus on healing. Any donation, no matter how small, would be a tremendous help. If you’re not able to donate, sharing this page would mean so much to us.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your prayers, support, kindness, and compassion as we navigate this difficult time.